Chapter 1
Chapter 1 – First Glance
It was my first day at a new school, and I’d already checked my schedule three times like it was some kind of survival map. New town. New school. New people. My chest felt heavy. Even the car ride here—rain sliding down the windows—was quiet enough to feel like a dream I hadn’t asked for.
“You got this, honey,” Mom said as we pulled into the school parking lot, her voice brighter than her face. That smile—it used to light up a room. Now it barely reached her eyes.
I forced a nod. “Yeah.”
She hesitated, her hands tightening around the steering wheel. “I know it’s been hard. You never should’ve had to go through this…” Her voice cracked, then faded into silence. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I lied, nodding again. “You’re doing your best. That’s all that matters.”
We didn’t say anything else. When I stepped out, drizzle hit my jacket, cool and sharp. I watched her drive away, that fake smile still plastered in place, and my chest ached.
Inside, the school was chaotic. Voices bounced off the walls, laughter spilling through crowded halls. My insides felt like the opposite—a storm waiting to break. Clutching my schedule like a lifeline, I whispered, “Class 12, Section C.”
When I finally found the room, the bell had already rung.
“Late on the first day?” the teacher said, voice sharp but not cruel, mild disappointment.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“Quiet, everyone.” She snapped her fingers, and the room obeyed. My shoulders flinched at the sudden silence. Then she turned back to me, tone softening. “We have a new student. Go on, introduce yourself.”
I lifted my chin and forced a small smile. “I’m Maya Evelyn Hale. You can just call me Maya.”
“Well, welcome, Maya! I’m Ms. Beth. Seat’s over there in the corner.”
I walked across the room, every stare stabbing into me. At the back, a boy leaned lazily in his chair. Dark eyes. No smile. He looked at me like he already knew me—and wished he didn’t.
“I’m Kairo,” he said, voice calm but sharp.
“I’m—”
“Yeah, Maya, whatever.” He cut me off.
My steps faltered. Okay. Rude. I slid into the seat beside him, pretending I didn’t hear the whispers crawling across the room.
Later, Ms. Beth was mid-lesson when her eyes landed on me. “Maya, why don’t you answer this one?”
Oh, perfect. “Oh, sh—” I muttered, panic slamming into me. My brain? Static.
A whisper brushed my ear. “Forty-three.”
I blinked at Kairo. “Uh… forty-three?”
Ms. Cole raised her brows. “Correct. Impressive. I have been teaching these for years, No one ever got these right” She shot the rest of the class a glare before moving on.
I couldn’t focus. My mind was already spiraling back to Mom, to the move, to everything we’d lost.
“Hey.” Kairo’s voice pulled me back. His tone was quiet but carried an edge. “Earth to Maya.”
I frowned. “What?”
“You’re not listening.”
“And what’s the point? It’s not like we’ll ever use this stuff again.”
He exhaled, impatient. “Then maybe don’t waste your time here.”
Wow. Blunt. My chest tightened. Great. First day of school, and I already had a seatmate who wanted me gone.
“Just saying,” he added, eyes flicking back to his notes. “You don’t look like you want to be here.”
“Stop staring at me like that,” I shot back, defensive.
His gaze lingered, unreadable, before sliding away. Something about those eyes—like they saw more than I wanted them to.
Lunch Break
I found an empty table in the corner, balancing a tray and my battered copy of Behind the Silence. I bit into my sandwich, trying to tune out the cafeteria noise.
“Hi.”
I nearly jumped out of my seat. A boy leaned over with a grin that screamed trouble. Jacket loose, tie hanging, brown hair just messy enough to look intentional.
“So how does it feel to be a newbie?”
Seriously? Who was this idiot? The audacity.
“How does it feel to be threatened by one?” I shot back before I could stop myself.
The whole cafeteria erupted: “OHHHHH!”
He smirked, unfazed. “Cute. Guess you think comebacks make you bold.”
“No. The fact you had to test me makes me bold.” My pulse was racing, but I held his stare.
This time the cafeteria lost it. His jaw tightened for a fraction of a second before one of his friends gave him a look, pulling him back. Cool on the outside, fuming inside, he backed off.
I sat down again, trying to bury myself in my book, but whispers filled the air. One cut through clearly: That’s the girl.
Fantastic. First day and I already had a reputation.
“Maya, come sit with us!” Two girls waved me over.
My introverted brain screamed no, but I forced a smile. “Sure.”
“I’m Amber,” the first said brightly.
“Chloe,” the second added. “So… Do you know why everyone’s whispering?”
I shook my head, tense. “No?”
Amber leaned closer. “The school’s golden boy, Ethan, just talked to you.”
“And his rival hasn’t stopped staring,” Chloe added, nodding toward the far side of the room.
Kairo.
I blinked. He’s my desk partner. Great, so I’ve made enemies with both the school’s golden boy and his rival?
My sandwich sat forgotten, my book closed. Across the cafeteria, my gaze snagged on him.
Kairo was watching me. Not just glancing—watching. Careful. Calculating. Like he was deciding if I belonged here.
His face looked calm, almost bored, but his eyes… sharp. Guarded. Like he wasn’t just seeing me—like he was protecting something of his own.
OMG. His eyes. AGAIN. Even from across the cafeteria, it felt like they wanted to say something, but they didn’t.
Why am I feeling this? I’ve never—ever—felt anything like this before.
For a second, I swear I forgot how to breathe.
